Though U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s job security appears to be firmly intact, that’s not dampening the race to run against him in November.

Five Democrats are competing in next week’s primary for the right to face Akin, a Republican whose district includes staunch GOP territory in St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln counties.

One of them — Byron DeLear – even has a commercial out.

(Who? Yes, I had to look him up, too.)

DeLear’s ad, airing on cable this week, opens in an unidentified running path — Queeny Park? — which is, you guessed it, a metaphor.

“Ever since my upbringing here in Missouri, I’ve come out and run this trail, pushing myself to the limit,” DeLear says. “It’s time to push our expectations of Washington to the limit.”

It’s an interesting comparison for DeLear, who only recently returned to St. Louis after running for Congress as a Green Party candidate in California.

As a Democrat, he’ll face some sturdy opposition in Tuesday’s primary.  Opponents include David L. Pentland, who was a St. Louis alderman, and former city School Board member Bill Haas, whose serial attempts for higher office have gained him, if nothing else, name recognition.

DeLear, though, does have some money, and least one prominent supporter — as noted earlier by our blog cousin DC Download, literary giant and social critic Gore Vidal has announced his support of DeLear.